Apparatus for molding rubber tires and the like.



No. 802,159. PATENTBD OCT. 1'7, 1905.

J. L. G. DYKES.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING RUBBER TIRES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6,1904.

SSHEETS-SHEET 1.

vN0. 802,159. PATENTED OUT. 17, 1905. J. L. G. DYKES.

\ APPARATUS FOR MOLDING RUBBER TIRES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 802,159. PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905.

J. L. G. DYKES.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING RUBBER TIRES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6,. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEEN.

JOHN L. Gr. DYKES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING RUBBER TIRES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed September 6, 1904. Serial No. 223,473.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. G. DYKES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for MoldingRubber Tires and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for molding rubber tires, tubes, andsimilar articles, and has reference more particularly to a new andimproved means and manner of applying a fabric base or-covering thereto.

In the manufacture of rubber vehicle-tires as at present carried out thetire is first molded by squeezing and forcing the plastic raw rubberthrough a steam-jacketed mold and matrix, and after the desired lengthof tire has thus been formed and prior to vulcanization a strip of stoutcanvas or the like is laid over and cemented to the base of the tire,covering the sides of the base, which engage the sides of the usualchanneled rim.

My invention has for its prime object to simplify and shorten theseoperations of molding the tire and subsequently applying the fabric baseby combining them in a single operation, thus practically eliminatingfrom the process of manufacture the time and operation represented bythe application of the fabric base.

In accordance with my invention I apply to the matrix of the mold adevice whereby the strip of canvas may be fed through the matrixsimultaneously with and in contact with the base portion of the matrixin such a manner as to adhere to the tire as it emerges from the matrix,thus efiecting the molding of the tire and the application of the fabriccovering by one and the same operation.

A machine which represents a mechanical embodiment of my invention inthe best form which I have hitherto designed is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective elevationalView of a tire-forming mold and matrix equipped with my presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section, on an enlarged scale, ofthe discharge end of the mold, including the discharge-nozzle andmatrix, having my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a sideelevational View of the delivery-tube. Fig. 4: is a top plan View of amandrel employed in the manufacture of tires having internalfastening-wires. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively face and verticalsectional views of the matrix. Fig. 7 is a front end view of thedelivery-tube. Fig. 8 is a front end view of the mandrel. Figs. 9 and 10are respectively cross-sectional and side elevational views of acomplete tire molded by the machine, and Fig. 11 is a cross-sectionalView of a sidewire tire such as may be made by the apparatus of myinvention.

Referring to the drawings, 15 designates a steam-jacketed mold of ausual pattern mounted on the pedestal 16 and provided internally withthe usual feed-screw 17, which serves to advance and force the materialfed into it through a hopper 18 into the discharge-nozzle 19.

Referring to Fig. 2, and more particularly describing the parts of thedelivery mechanism, 20 designates a cored nozzle-supporting projectionsecured to the forward end of the mold-cylinder 15 and having asteam-chamber 20 in connection with the'steam-chamber of the moldthrough ports 21. An internallyflanged collar 22 is secured in thenozzle-support 20 through threaded engagement therewith and itselfserves to support a forwardlyprojecting sleeve 19, constituting theouter shell of the discharge-nozzle. The sleeve 19 is cut away on itslower side, as indicated at 19*, and itself carries a delivery-tube 23,the form of which is more particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Thisdelivery-tube consists of a sleeve having at one end an integral collar24:, snugly fitting a corresponding internal enlargement of the outersleeve 19 and having a flared bore at its rear end and a somewhatcontracted bore at its forward end having the cross-sectional form ofthe finished tire, as shown in Fig. 7. At its forward end the sleeve 23is provided on its under side with a series of inclined flat surfacesdisposed at angles to each other, the bottom or lower inclined surfacebeing indicated by a, the next adjacent inclined surfaces, which aretriangular in plan, as shown in Fig. 3, being indicated by b, and theupper inclined surfaces lying directly above the series 6 beingindicated by c. All of these inclines taper from a point on the outersurface of the tube somewhat inwardly of its outer end to itsinnersurface, substantially coincident with its outer end. These beveled orinclined surfaces of the delivery-tube 23 are disposed directly abovethe opening 19 of the outer sleeve of the nozzle. Fitted within theouter end of the sleeve 19 and abutting against an annular shoulder onthe end of said sleeve and also against the end of the delivery-tube 23is a matrix 25, constructed to conform to the cross-sectional outline ofthe tire to be molded. This matrix, which is more particularly shown inFigs. 5 and 6, has formed on its inner face a series ofinwardly-projecting lips a and 0', which when the parts are assembledunderlie the forward ends of the inclined surfaces a, b, and c of thedelivery-tube, leaving therebetween a narrow passage-way for thedelivery of tape, as hereinafter more particularly described. The matrixmay be secured to its seat by a nut 26 engaging the externallythreadedend of the sleeve 19 and having an internal shoulder abutting againstthe outer face of the matrix 25.

For the manufacture of tires adapted to be secured by one or moreinternal fasteningwires I employ, as usual in this class of machines, amandrel for the formation of the necessary holes in the tire toaccommodate said wires. Such a mandrel is herein shown at 27, beingsupported at its inner end in a spider 28, which is supported andadjusted by means of set-screws 29, passed through the nozzlesupport 20and engaging the periphery of the spider. The forward end of the mandrelincludes a pair of prongs 27, adapted to the formation of a tire havinga pair of internal fastening-wires. These prongs 27 extend through thematrix, being supported in a position slightly above the base of thelatter.

In or directly beneath the opening 19 of the sleeve 19 is suitablymounted a guideroller 30, disposed transversely of the nozzle andserving to guide and support a fabric strip or tape 31, delivered froman underlying reel or spool 32. Any suitable means may be employed forsupporting the guide-roller and spool in proper positions, the meansherein shown for that purpose consisting of a depending bracket 33,secured at its upper end to the sleeve 19 and having the guide -'rollerand spool mounted on spindles 30 and 32, projecting laterally therefrom.

34: designates a table, platform, or other suitable support disposed infront of the matrix and adapted to receive and support the product inthe manner clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

35 designates a gas-pipe having a burner 36 disposed directly beneaththe under side of the sleeve 19 somewhat in rear of the guideroller 30,the function of said burner being to heat the delivery-tube and matrixsufficiently to insure a free and uniform flow of the plastic materialtherethrough. In some cases the flow of the material will besufficiently uniform and free without the use of such auxiliary heatingmeans, in which case the latter can be dispensed with.

In the operation of the machine the rubber stock is fed into the hopper18, steam being turned on through the the steam-chambers of the mold toheat the same and power being applied to the shaft of the feed-screw 17By this means the material is fed forward uniformly in a soft andplastic condition, being forced through the openings of the spider 28and thence into the receiving end of the discharge-nozzle, entering theflaring end of the delivery-tube 23 around the stem or shank of themandrel 27. As it passes on to the forward end of the delivery-tube itforms a solid mass at the latter, with the exception of the spaceoccupied by the mandrel-rod 27, assuming in the forward end of thedeliverytube and the matrix 25 the cross-sectional form of the tire inits finished condition. Previous to the discharge of stock through thematrix the tape or strip 31 is carried upwardly over the guide-roller30, through the narrow passage between the overlapping lips of thedelivery-tube and matrix, and through the latter, so that the stock asit enters and passes through the matrix is forced into intimate contactwith the strip or tape, the latter overlying thosesides of the matrixwhich form the base and outwardly-inclined base sides of the tire. Thiscontact having been established, the tire as it advances through thematrix onto the table or support 34: automatically picks up and carrieswith it, snugly adhered thereto, the fabric strip or tape, the latterbeing gradually unwound from the spool 32 as it is thus used. I havefound by actual test that a fabric base may be applied in this mannertothe rubber tire during the molding opertion without in the leastimpairing the quality or structure of the tire itself and withoutinvolving any delay in the molding operation, from which it will be seenthat my invention entirely saves the time and labor which is nowrequired in the subsequent application of the fabric base. Aside fromthis it effects an economy in that it dispenses with the loss of wasteends, which now require to be cut off and discarded under the presentmethod of applying the base.

While I have described my machine as formed for the application of afabric base to a rubber tire, yet it will be readily understood that thesame principle of operation may be advantageously employed for theapplication of a fabric covering to a tube or hose. This would requiremerely a circumferential enlargement or extension of the passage-waybetween the end of the deliverytube and the matrix and such amodification in the peripheral form of the roller 30 as would serve toguide and support a strip of sufiicient width to form such asurface-covering.

It is evident that the machine as herein shown and described might beconsiderably modified in respect to details of form, construction, andrelative disposition of parts without altering the real character of theinvention or departing from the principle or spirit thereof. Hence I donot limit the invention to the particular mechanical embodiment thereofherein illustrated and described except to the extent indicated inspecific claims.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for'molding rubber tires and the like, thecombination with a mold having a laterally-apertured delivery-nozzle andmeans for forcing plastic material therethrough, of means for guidingand directing a covering-strip of non-plastic material drawn throughsaid aperture by frictional contact with the surface of said plasticmaterial as the latter is expressed through said deliverynozzle,substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for molding rubber tires and the like, thecombination with a mold having a delivery-nozzle provided with a matrixin its forward end and having a transverse aperture formed therein inrear of said matrix, of means for guiding and directing a covering-stripthrough said aperture and the matrix in contact with the rubberdelivered by the latter, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for molding rubber tires and the like, thecombination with a mold having a delivery-nozzle provided with a matrixin its forward end and having a transverse aperture formed thereininrear of said matrix, of guide-walls between said aperture and matrix soshaped and disposed as to form between them a guide-slot for the passageof a covering strip or tape to and through the matrix, substantially asdescribed.

4. In an apparatus for molding rubber tires and the like, thecombination with a mold having a delivery-nozzle provided with a matrixin its forward end and having a transverse aperture formed therein inrear of said matrix, of guide-walls between said aperture and matrix soshaped and disposed as to form between them a guide-slot for the passageof a covering strip or tape to and through the matrix, and a guideroller for. said strip mounted across said aperture, substantially asdescribed.

5. In an apparatus for molding rubber tires and the like, thecombination with a mold having a laterally-apertured delivery-nozzle, ofmeans for guiding and directing a fabric covering strip or tape drawnthrough said aperture by frictional contact with the surface of saidplastic material as the latter is expressed through saiddelivery-nozzle, and means for heating the latter, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an apparatus for molding rubber tires and the like, thecombination with a mold having a laterally-apertured delivery-nozzlecontaining a mandrel, and means for forcing the plastic materialtherethrough, of means for guiding and directing a covering-strip ofnon-plastic material drawn through said aperture by frictional contactwith the surface of said plastic material as the latter is expressedthrough said delivery-nozzle around said mandrel, substantially asdescribed.

JOHN L. G. DYKES.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. POND, FREDERICK O. GOODWIN.

